Volume 8, Issue 3 | August/September/October 2018
A PUBLICATION OF RIVER ACTION, INC. www.riveraction.org
Connecting people to the river
Connecting the Dots Mapping the high-water hazards and history of Boulder Creek Inside: - Events Connecting Our Community - Mary Miss - Upper Mississippi River Conference - And much more. . .
Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Montezuma, IA Permit No. 30
PUBLISHER’S LET TER
Calling All Resilience Planners August/September/October 2018 Volume 8 Issue 3 _______
KATHY WINE, Publisher / Executive Director BETH CLARK, Managing Editor, Milepost Ventures, LLC. JEFF VanECHAUTE/pi design, inc., Design APRIL KLECKNER, Calendar Editor Contributing Writers LAURA MORRIS, River Action Staff NOAH TRUESDELL, River Action Staff KATHY WINE, River Action Staff CAROL DOWNEY, River Action Staff Contributing Photographers RIVER ACTION STAFF AMY NEIGHBOUR VANECHAUTE, pi design, inc EMILY BROUGH RUTH BLOOM CITY OF DUBUQUE STOCK: INGIMAGE.com Printing Services SUTHERLAND PRINTING © eddy Magazine and River Action, Inc., all rights reserved, 2018. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without express, written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine. This magazine is sold with the understanding that neither it, nor River Action, Inc., its owners or managers, are engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, medical, technical, or any other advice, professional or otherwise. The publication of any advertisement does not reflect the endorsement of any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement and there is written approval for such endorsement. Those submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material to eddy Magazine for consideration should not send originals. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other submitted materials must be accompanied by a self addressed, postage paid envelope in return of materials is requested. Return of materials is not guaranteed. eddy Magazine is published quarterly by River Action, Inc., 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 and is direct mailed to approximately 6,000 area homes and businesses. eddy Magazine Published by River Action, Inc. 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 563-322-2969 www.riveraction.org To Advertise: Contact Beth Clark 309-269-3455 or contact Deb Girard at debgirard@hotmail.com. For rates, ad dimensions and deadline information email BethC@ milepostventures.com To Subscribe or become a member of River Action: call 563-322-2969 or visit www.riveraction.org
Our Mission: River Action strives to foster the environmental, economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront in the Quad City region.
R
esilience thinking is making an impact; preparing for disasters is almost a growth industry.
The Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative, meeting in the Quad
Cities September 18-20, 2018, will address the exposure to both flood and drought risks, both of which impact river communities. The Quad Cities Flood
Kathy Wine
Resiliency Alliance Workshop, October 25, 2:30-5 p.m., Stoney Creek Hotel, Moline, will also address the need for collaborative planning; it will address the basics of a flood alliance, how to get flood insurance discounts, flood damage prevention ordinances, and more. Because cities want to be more resilient now and 25, 50, or 100 years from now, we have to ask what is resilience planning, and how do we plan for it? The first question is fairly easy; the second, trickier. Urban resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of stresses and shocks they experience. Some are chronic—high unemployment, poor or overtaxed infrastructure, water shortages, or floods. We always think we are preparing for the next generation, and then a huge flood or drought comes; now, we have started thinking of those events as regular occurrences. Mississippi River communities have come to the realization that water isn’t a problem to be solved,
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
it’s an amenity. Resilience planners, whether they
are mayors, city administrators, floodplain managers,
city councils, public works directors, emergency management personnel, concerned citizens, or
river stakeholders, are matchmakers who go around
the cities connecting people, organizations, and government agencies, helping them see how
interrelated and interdependent they are—and how
they fit in to the resiliency strategy. One can tie just about anything back to some element of resilience. The Rockefeller Foundation funded several resilience offices in the 100 Resilient Cities program. Staff for these offices came from different disciplines, bringing their core expertise with them—as well as getting outside their comfort zones. Planning is a field really predisposed to aim for the goal of resilience. It’s very simple; it is the profession that thinks about the future. They also have skills to manage change, but need to work with other disciplines and other skillsets. That is why we are putting out the call to all resilience planners: attend the Mayor’s Meeting and our Quad Cities Flood Resiliency Alliance Workshop and make the Quad Cities Resilient Cities!
4 Events Connecting Our Community 4 4 6 6 7 8
Floatzilla by Noah Truesdell Cops, Kids, Kayaks & Canoes by Noah Truesdell Golf Cart Tour by Noah Truesdell Big Table by Morgan Anderson Taming of the Slough by Noah Truesdell Sylvan Island Explorer Program by Noah Truesdell
8 Mary Miss
by Kathy Wine
9 Upper Mississippi River Conference by Carol Downey
10 The Explore the River Series by Laura Morris
11 AmeriCorps NCCC
by Laura Morris and Emily Brough
12 Davenport Permeable Alley by Laura Morris
12
I-74 Bridge Tours by Laura Morris
13 eddy Calendar:
August, September, October by April Kleckner
August/September/October 2018 | eddy Magazine
3
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
FLOATZILLA: Giveaways Boost Registration
(Photo credit: River Action Archives)
— by Noah Truesdell
R
egistration is up for Floatzilla, August 18! Early Bird Registration for Floatzilla wrapped up 40% higher than last year! At this pace, we have our sights set on the World Record for Largest Raft of Kayaks and Canoes. We were generously donated a kayak from Theisen’s, and a YETI Cooler from Active Endeavors to help boost our registrations. Both were given to paddlers who signed up early. Our sponsors Ruhl & Ruhl and McLaughlin Subaru have also assisted in marketing to help boost registration. We are partnering with the QC Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert, which takes place just a few hours after Floatzilla. Following our beach fun, the Symphony’s Beach Boys tribute offers an encore in LeClaire Park. The Symphony has offered $5 off entry to the concert for anyone who takes part in Floatzilla. Register for Floatzilla to get your coupon code. We have many signed up, but we need more if we are going to break the record! We have more outfitters than ever bringing boats to launch sites for our paddlers. If you have a boat of your own, sign up! And if you don’t have a boat, check out our list of outfitters on our website to rent. Sign up at riveraction.org/Floatzilla. NOW!
4
eddy Magazine | www.riveraction.org
COPS, KIDS, KAYAKS, & CANOES:
Gearing Up for Floatzilla — by Noah Truesdell
T
he Cops, Kids, Kayaks, & Canoes program is underway. On July 30, 50 at-risk teens who had never held a paddle before were taken to West Lake. Once there, they were put into boats and taught how to handle themselves on the water by Dave Murcia. Dave is the Director of the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center and a certified paddling instructor. He and his staff spent the afternoon with our kids, making sure they were comfortable in their boats and capable with their paddles. The teens were given Floatzilla lifejackets to wear for their class and take home to keep, soon to be used again. On August 18, each kid in our program will go to a designated launch site (with their new lifejacket) where they will meet the police officer/paddling enthusiast whom they will paddle with for Floatzilla. The officers of the Quad Cities Police Departments have volunteered their time to make Cops, Kids, Kayaks, & Canoes an outreach program for local police. The teen/officer pair will launch from their site and make their way down the Mississippi to Lake Potter to take part in the World Record Attempt for Largest Raft of Kayaks and Canoes. The program will give these kids the opportunity to bond with local authority figures and new skills to enjoy our local waterways.
Ride the River V
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
— by Carol Downey
olunteers load bikes onto the Mississippi River Fleeting barge while bikers wait to ride the Celebration Belle. This year’s Ride the River was an Island Adventure. It featured activities and local food trucks on Credit, Arsenal, Sylvan, and Campbell’s Islands. There were also Adventure Games at Ride the River Headquarters in LeClaire Park.
August/September/October 2018 | eddy Magazine
5
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
River Action Hosts a
O
n Saturday April 21, 2018, at noon, River Action intern Morgan Anderson hosted a Big Table Talk to contribute to the Quad Cities Chamber’s Q2030 Plan of Action. Our table consisted of 11 people from a wide range of backgrounds. One of the most interesting ideas was to have a sustainability coordination committee in the Quad Cities. If this committee
Big Table were to partner with sustainability coordinators at Augustana College, Black Hawk College, and St. Ambrose University, it would allow young people to add more input, and pave the way for change in the Quad cities. River Action is looking into having a Sustainability Coordinator in the Quad Cities. Overall, our Big Table was a success and opened a great line of communication to
(Photo credit: River Action Archives)
— by Morgan Anderson better the Quad Cities. Greg Aguilar, Director of Q2030 Regional Plan of Action, commented, “...I was inspired to hear about Morgan’s Big Table conversation because I see great opportunities through Q2030 to empower young talent from our local colleges and universities and engage them with regional amenities, social opportunities, and civic partners...”
(Photo credit: River Action Archives)
Golf Cart Tour — by Noah Truesdell
T
he Senior Citizens Riverfront Golf Cart Tour is coming up on September 6th! We will be offering five different tours three times throughout the day. Tour 1 starts at Credit Island and goes to either Nahant Marsh or Bettendorf to view the I-74 Bridge Construction, Tour 2 will be on Arsenal Island, Tour 3 takes place in Rock Island, Tour 4 is a tour of Moline and East Moline to Hampton, and the final tour begins in Rapids City and works its way up to Cordova. Each tour is $12.50 per person and offered at 9:00am, 11:30am, and 2:00pm. Sign up at riveraction.org.
6
eddy Magazine | www.riveraction.org
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
Taming of the Slough T
his year’s 13th annual Taming of the Slough adventure triathlon returns to downtown Moline. On the morning of September 15, racers will meet at the foot of 17th Street just outside of the Bass Street YMCA to prepare themselves for the test. Individuals, teams of two-, or three-person relays will paddle, mountain bike, and run their way to the finish on our new route, adjusted for Moline. The paddling portion will be a 2.5 mile loop through Sylvan Slough. After completing their paddle, racers will hustle onto their bikes and take off for Sylvan Island, where they will
September 15 complete four miles through the foundations of the old industrial site on the island. They will bike back to our transition area at 17th Street to leave their bikes and proceed on their run two miles through downtown Moline to the turnaround at Velie Park and back to the finish line at Bass Street Landing. The second year of the 3x3 Adventure Series will find its grand champion at Taming
(Photo credit: River Action Archives)
— by Noah Truesdell
of the Slough this year as well. Racers who participated in the Timber City Adventure Race and Annawan Canal Ambush will see who had the best times across all three races at the conclusion of Taming of the Slough. In addition to the 3x3 Series Cup, prizes will be given in 10 different categories for Taming of the Slough racers. All ages are welcome. Tune Up for Taming practice runs will take place 5:30-7 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 23, 30, and Sept. 6, starting at the foot of 17th St., Moline. Find out more and register for the race at riveraction.org/taming.
August/September/October 2018 | eddy Magazine
7
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
Mary Miss: T
hose who have heard Mary Miss and/or seen her work learn quickly there’s not a big difference between science and art. They are both in search of something. In Mary Miss’s installations, both are in pursuit of the same thing. Guided by an artistic vision and love of nature, Mary Miss, Director of City as Living Laboratory (CaLL), relies on the public being curious. Her works are interdisciplinary, often informed by the history and environment of their settings and include elements or architecture, sculpture, landscape design, and installation art. When she launched CaLL, she encouraged her artists to collaborate with scientists, planners and other experts to create place-based art that engages the public in issues of sustainability, hopefully, to change behaviors and support resilient communities. She believes the role of artists is to make
Boulder Floodplain Marking. (Photo provided)
Forging a new relationship between the built environment and the natural world
sustainability a tangible experience, doing projects that might involve energy, water, history, or meeting places. The goal is to arouse the interest and curiosity of visitors, making these pressing issues of the 21st Century accessible. Chris and Mary Rayburn, Davenport, who first became acquainted with Miss’s work in New York City, will sponsor her keynote talk at the Upper Mississippi River Conference, October 24-25, where she will present her groundbreaking work during the UMRC luncheon on the 25th. Her open mic presentation at the Figge, October 25, 7 p.m., and her work with students in workshop at both Central High School and Rock Island High School the following day are also being funded by the Rayburns in collaboration with The Figge and Quad City Arts. This is an opportunity for Quad Citians to be exposed to and reflect on her ideas about sustainability.
— by Kathy Wine
Collaboration has been central to her work as she has developed projects as diverse as creating a temporary memorial around the perimeter of Ground Zero, marking the predicted flood level of Boulder, Colorado (featured above and on the cover) revealing the history of the Union Square Subway station in New York City, and in WaterMarks, her current project creating an atlas of water for the city of Milwaukee. In the Boulder project, the city realized the goal of changing behavior with it. After the art installation, the city suffered no loss of life in a record flash flood. The public knowing well the floodplain and expected water levels, stayed out of harm’s way. Plan to attend one of Mary Miss’s presentations and learn how an individual is directly engaged with otherwise abstract environmental issues when scientists and artists act as a team. Find out more at riveraction.org/umrc
New Explorers Program Brings Local Kids to Sylvan Island — by Noah Truesdell
I
n July, River Action took kids from the Boys and Girls Club in Moline and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Rock Island to Sylvan Island as part of the QC Wild Places Explorers Program. The four groups of 40 kids were taught about local history, wildlife, and how to be a good environmental steward. At the first station the groups were given field journals. They were taught how to observe plants and animals in nature and encouraged to find things that interested them on the island and take notes on them. They kept
8
eddy Magazine | www.riveraction.org
the notebooks on hand as they worked their way through the other stations on the island. The second station was led by Norm Moline, Professor Emeritus at Augustana College, who taught the kids about the history of Sylvan Island. He guided them through the ruins of the industrial site, now a popular mountain biking destination, and taught them the geologic and anthropologic history of the island. The kids learned about how humans impact the environment and how to be better stewards for the future by doing water testing on the
Mississippi River. The final activity for the kids was a birding hike. Each of the kids was given his/her own set of binoculars to keep, and taught how to listen for and locate birds. The QC Wild Places program brings together those who work on the 133,000 acres of wild spaces near the Quad Cities. The Explorer program encourages kids and families to go to our wild places to discover local wildlife themselves. Our program gave these kids the tools and knowledge they need to remain active explorers throughout their lives.
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
11th Annual Upper Mississippi River Conference
Our Watershed U
pper Mississippi watershed stakeholders will gather in Moline, Ill. on Oct. 2425, 2018, at Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center for River Action’s 11th Annual Upper Mississippi River Conference. The 2018 conference theme builds upon one of the action items from the 2016 conference to “Raise the Grade” of the Mississippi River. In 2015, America’s Watershed Initiative evaluated several aspects of the Mississippi River and gave it a grade of D+ in the overall watershed, and a C in the Upper Mississippi River basin. Watershed planning, linking floodplain and watershed management to improve infrastructure and manage development and natural resources, is key to improving natural floodplains and minimizing at-risk development. Speaker highlights include Dr. Gerald Galloway, Univ. of Maryland, Chad Berginnis, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Mike Sutfin, Building & Zoning Official, Ottawa, Ill., Col. Bryan Sizemore, St. Louis District Commander, USACE, and Mary Miss, Artist/ Founder, City as Living Laboratory. Concurrent speaker tracks will focus on floodplains/flood risk management and water quality/biodiversity. The conference features speakers from the Twin Cities, Wisconsin, Iowa, St. Louis area, central Illinois, Quad Cities, and as far east as West Virginia, Maryland and New York. Representatives from all five upper Mississippi River border states will be featured in a panel discussion focused on living with the river rather than fighting the river. Tours of successful area watershed-related projects in the field (urban storm water management, nutrient reduction and nutrient monitoring) will take attendees to Rock Island and Carbon Cliff, Ill., rural Andalusia, Illinois City and Buffalo
— by Carol Downey
October 24-25, 2018 Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center Moline, IL Prairie, Ill., or rural Green Island, Iowa, on Wednesday afternoon. An in-house workshop, ‘Go with the Flow,’ will offer an alternative to the Wednesday off-site trips and will focus on flood prediction and measurement, water flow, water level and water quality measurement.
Attendees also will enjoy a catfish dinner with a performance by Brian ‘Fox” Ellis, Riverlorian, of Fox Tales International, entitled “Singing a River’s Story.” Register at riveraction.org/umrc.
QUAD CITIES FLOOD RESILIENCY ALLIANCE WORKSHOP – Reduce flood insurance costs! A special feature of the 2018 Upper Mississippi River Conference is River Action’s initiation of a Quad Cities Flood Resiliency Alliance, modeled after the successful Illinois Valley Flood Resiliency Alliance. Valuable information will be presented on how communities can better prepare for flood events and reduce flood losses, especially for those homes and businesses located in a floodplain in the greater Quad City area. Local Certified Floodplain Managers, storm water managers, building/zoning officials, city/county administrators, public works directors, engineers, emergency management personnel, insurance agents, realtors, concerned citizens and many others can benefit from the information presented at the workshop. Mike Sutfin, Building & Zoning Official, Ottawa, Ill., and Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin (Dist. 38) will lead the workshop,
presenting many of the successful practices already in place in central Illinois. Illinois State Senator Neil Anderson (Dist. 36) will take a supporting role in the new Quad Cities alliance. Iowa State Senator Rita Hart (Dist. 49) will assume a supporting role for the Iowa side of the river. Topics covered in this workshop will include: • Why and how to join • Basics of a flood resiliency alliance • FEMA/NFIP Community Rating System • Hazard assessment • Flood insurance discounts • Creditable activities • Loss avoidance • Flood damage prevention ordinances • Mitigation strategies • Risk communication • Local participation • Available state and federal funding • Measurable benefits The QCFRA workshop will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 from 2:30 - 5 p.m. at Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Moline, Ill. Registration is $25 (included in full UMR Conference registration fee or Thursday-only conference fee); register online at www.riveraction.org/umrc
August/September/October 2018 | eddy Magazine
9
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
The Explore the River Series
Join River Action on our field trip to Dubuque, Iowa, on August 29 as we tour the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project and view the “daylighted” Bee Branch Creek. (Photo courtesy of
— by Laura Morris
A participant asks a question of the speaker on a Channel Cat Talk. (Photo by Ruth Bloom)
the City of Dubuque)
August’s Channel Cat Talks Field Trip to Dubuque, August 29 hannel Cat Talk participants tour the oin River Action on our field trip to Mississippi River aboard the Channel Cat Dubuque on August 29, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Water Taxi, while experts narrate. Channel This guided tour will cover the Bee Branch Cat Talks are offered Tuesday and Thursdays Watershed Flood Mitigation Project, a $219 9-10:45 a.m. million project to “daylight” a creek. In urban August 7 and August 9 – Operations design, daylighting redirects streams into and Maintenance of the Nation’s Waterways, an above-ground channel, transforming the Anthony Heddlesten and Joshua Hendrix, water system back into its natural state. The USACE City of Dubuque replaced almost one mile of This trip will focus on why the lock and dam sewer with a naturalized creek and floodplain system was constructed in the 1930s, how it that resembles the one that traversed the area has been maintained to date, and will discuss approximately 100 years ago. This daylighting ongoing repairs at Lock and Dam 15. Attendees method addresses the frequent flash floods will have the ability to lock through Lock and the area experiences. The City of Dubuque The City of Dubuque installed fourteen floating Dam 15 (weather and traffic dependent) treatment islands. (Photo courtesy of the City of estimated that this will prevent $585 million and see the ongoing work to upgrade the Dubuque) in damages over the 100-year design life of downstream lock wall. this project. August 14 and August 16 – River Participants will view some of the eighty permeable alleys and Landscape Mosaic, Dr. Norm Moline and Dr. Reuben Heine, Augustana fourteen floating islands the City of Dubuque has installed, which address College water volume and water quality. Specifically, the 240 planned green alleys Study the channel characteristics, riverfront uses, and environmental will result in a significant reduction of runoff of soils, fertilizers and road issues in Pool 15 from Arsenal Island to Campbell’s Island and observe I-74 surface chemicals from the waterways. bridge construction. The group will also explore the Port of Dubuque and Historic Millwork August 21 and August 23 – The History of Fort Armstrong and the District. This trip costs $45 for members and $50 for non-members. A box Arsenal Island, Gena Schantz, Historian lunch and transportation is included. Seating is limited, so sign up early! Join us as we discuss Arsenal Island’s history and how it evolved from military outpost to a major industrial complex. August’s Riverene Walks iverine Walk participants explore the Quad Cities through a series of guided walks. Riverine Walks are offered Wednesday events, 6:30-8 p.m., and Saturdays, 9-10:30 a.m. August 8 and August 11 – Downtown Rock Island: Still Rock Solid, Miles Brainard, Urban Planner Tour the oldest downtown in the Quad Cities and learn about its past, present, and future with a focus on architecture and a changing economy. Meet At: Schweibert Riverfront Park, Rock Island, IL EASY TO FIND. HARD TO RESIST. August 15 and August 18 – A Look at Black Hawk State Historic Site Through the Years, Elizabeth Carvey, Historian Walk back through 400 million years of geologic time. Learn about the Sauk and Meskwaki, the amusement park, the effects of the Steel and WWW.HUNGRYHOBO.COM Sears dams on the river, current infrastructure improvements, and more!
C
J
R
10
eddy Magazine | www.riveraction.org
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
Meet at: Singing Bird Lodge, Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island, IL August 22 and August 25 – Moline Riverfront Development – 25 Years and Counting, Jeff Anderson, Urban Planner Experience Moline’s two-and-half decades of reimagining, redeveloping, and repurposing the Mississippi Riverfront. Take a deeper dive into the creation of a community vision that has successfully transformed Moline’s riverfront into a regional destination. The walk will start in John Deere Commons, move along the riverfront to Bass Street Landing, and then wrap up on the river’s edge in the I-74 Realignment Zone. Past, present, and future will come together in this urban riverfront exploration. Meeting Place: RiverEdge Walk between Radisson and Arsenal Bridge (just north of TGI Fridays and Isabelle Bloom) August 29 and September 1 – Best Management Practices within an Urban/Riparian Interface, Brittany Ackerland, City of Davenport We will discuss the importance of maintaining streambank buffers to catch runoff and excess pollutants caused by urbanization and current methods of doing so. Meet at: Junge Park, Davenport, IA
Cell: 563.370.8990 Stan Goodyear, CFP, CPA REALTOR®, Licensed in Iowa & Illinois, SRES® 4545 Welcome Way Davenport, IA 52806 StanGoodyear@RuhlHomes.com
www.StanleyGoodyear.RuhlHomes.com
AmeriCorps NCCC at Black Hawk State Historic Site — by Laura Morris and Emily Brough
R
iver Action recently sponsored an AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) team to make infrastructure improvements to the trail system at Black Hawk State Historic Site, which is one of River Action’s Quad City Wild Places. Based in Vinton, Iowa and the North Central Region campus, the AmeriCorps NCCC team, called Maple 6, spent a short, but productive time serving Black Hawk State Historic Site. From Thursday, June 7 to Monday, June 25, the team worked alongside the site’s staff to make important repairs to the river trails. Maple 6 used pick axes and McLeod’s to widen a mile and a half of the trails on the east and west sides, making them more accessible for public use and school groups. Maple 6 also helped open a new switchback trail after deconstructing the secondary staircase. Reusing the steps, the team added three new earth staircases and added hand railings on the trails to promote responsible hiking. The bathrooms on the north side of the park were repainted and included murals. River Action is working closely with Black Hawk State Historic Site, which is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to continue improving the current infrastructure of this natural area. River Action will be replacing the current staircase that runs from the Hauberg Indian Museum to the river trail with funding from an anonymous donor. The current staircase consists of fifty steps that head directly down the bluff. These fifty-year-old steps will be replaced to meet modern codes; including resting areas, or elongated platforms, within the staircase that will comply with ADA codes and provide hikers with a place to rest and/or observe. Each landing will have a simple bench. We will also be making improvements to the observation platform on this trail system. River Action prioritized this QC Wild Place in 20182019 to improve safety for visitors. This site s ees 154,330 people annually and of this amount, 3,849 are school aged children. The river trail system at Black Hawk State Historic Site is truly transformed by the hard work that Maple 6 completed. River Action hopes to continue the momentum created by AmeriCorps NCCC and complete the additional infrastructure improvements by 2019.
From 1933 to 1935, Black Hawk State Historic Site was a work site of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC); the CCC constructed six miles of beautiful trails, trail structures, parking lots, two picnic areas, two thirds of the present day lodge, and planted thousands of wildflowers, plants and trees. This legacy added historical importance to the service work of Maple 6. The improvements made by Maple 6 at Black Hawk State Historic Site in 2018 would not have been possible without the initial efforts of the CCC in 1933.
The river trail was widened and leveled by Maple 6. (Photo by Emily Brough)
Douglas Andersen, Maple 6, makes improvements to new railings on the river trail system. River Action sponsored an AmeriCorps NCCC team from June 7-25 to make trail improvements at Black Hawk State Historic Site. (Photo by Emily Brough)
Meet AmeriCorps NCCC Maple 6 Team Leader, Krystal Otworth, CA, 23 Douglas Andersen, TX, 19 Casey Booth, NY, 21 Emily Brough, PA, 23 Zane Diana, FL, 19 Kent Sassatelli, IL, 25 Victor Ziegert, OH, 20 August/September/October 2018 | eddy Magazine
11
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
Building a Bridge for the Future:
(Photo credit: River Action Archives)
— by Laura Morris
The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge Project Tours
R
iver Action will be hosting four tours about the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge Project on the Channel Cat Water Taxi. The tours will be offered Wednesday, September 12 from 9-11 a.m. and 11:30-1:30 p.m., and Wednesday, September 19 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
and 4-6 p.m. Join Danielle Mulholland, I-74 Project Manager, as she discusses the planning and construction process for this important east-west link in the nation’s transportation network. You will learn about the design and building process of the bridge and get
First Permeable Alley in Davenport is
Right Up Our Alley! — by Laura Morris
R
iver Action, the City of Davenport and Yash Commercial Properties, LCC, will be installing the first permeable alley in Davenport! The process of resurfacing the east-west alley between River Drive and Isabell Bloom Way will include the removal of asphalt and brick surfaces, excavation and the installation of the appropriate rock storage chamber, sub drain and a concrete paved border to tie into the existing parking lot and surfaces to the south, and a permeable paver system. Because this is the first permeable alley in the City of Davenport, it will act as a demonstration and model to install more in the Quad Cities. River Action wants to educate the general population that a permeable system is a viable conservation option for installation by homeowners and business owners in the Quad Cities. A perk for River Action is that the first permeable alley will be installed directly behind our office! This project is funded in part by the City of Davenport, River Action, Yash Commercial Properties, Regional Development Authority, and Iowa American Water.
12
eddy Magazine | www.riveraction.org
the latest updates on construction. The Channel Cat will leave from the Riverbend Commons dock, 2951 East River Dr, Moline. These programs are $20 per person. Sign up at riveraction.org/education or by calling (563) 322-2969.
eddy C A L E N D A R
August
River Action Night at Rubys Beers, Bikes, Brats
Nahant Marsh: Breakfast Nature Club – Native Fruit and Nut Trees
Aug 3, 8 - 9 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave., Davenport, nahantmarsh.org Learn about the vast variety of native fruit and nutbearing trees that are indigenous to the Midwest and how they are beneficial to wildlife. $5 suggested donation.
Aug 9, 5 - 9 pm, Rubys, 429 E. 3rd St., Davenport Help raise funds for River Action by raising a glass and having a brat at Rubys. Ten percent of all sales go to fund River Action programs.
Nahant Marsh: Nature Hike
River Action’s Explore the River Series
Memorial Day through Labor Day, Channel Cat Talks – Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 - 10:45 am, Riverbend Commons, 2951 River Dr. Moline $14; Riverine Walks – Wednesdays 6:30 - 8 pm and Saturdays 9 - 10:30 am, locations vary, $6, riveraction.org/education Join us for River Action’s Explore the River Series. Tour the Mississippi River aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi while experts narrate. Riverine Walk participants explore the Quad Cities through a series of guided walks.
Backwater Gamblers Water Ski Show
Memorial Day through Labor Day - every Wednesday and Sunday, 6:30 pm, Rock River, 5000 44th St. Rock Island, backwatergamblers.com A free water ski show. Donations appreciated.
Celebration River Cruises
Aug 4, 9 - 10 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave, Davenport, nahantmarsh.org Join a Naturalist for a guided hike along the trails and experience the environmental changes as plants and wildlife adapt to the seasons. $5 suggested donation.
Nahant Marsh: Beginning Birding
Aug 8 and 18, 6:30 - 9 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave, Davenport, $6 Members, $12 Guests, nahantmarsh.org Learn how to identify birds by sight and call and how to use equipment properly with expert ornithologist Kelly McKay.
The Great River Tug Fest
Aug 9 - 11, Port Byron and LeClaire, tugfest.org The only tug-of-war across the Mississippi River. A weekend full of fun activities for all ages.
Nahant Marsh: Family Program – Prairie Insects Aug 11, 10 - 11 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave, Davenport, $3 Members, $6 Guests, nahantmarsh.org Participants will use nets to catch various species of dragonflies, butterflies, grasshoppers, and more. No fee for adults accompanying children.
Quad City Audubon Society Field Trip
Aug 18, 8 am, Credit Island Lodge, Davenport, free, quadcityaudubon.org Look for shore birds at Cone Marsh in Conesville, Iowa. Continued on page 14 >
Schedule, prices and cruise times vary, 2501 River Dr., Moline, 309-764-1952, celebrationbelle.com Enjoy the Mighty Mississippi River, see the I-74 new bridge construction up close, and take in historical sights of the Quad City Area including the Rock Island Arsenal and Lock and Dam #15.
Riverboat Twilight
May 29 - Oct 23, Schedule, prices and cruise times vary, 197 Front St. Le Claire, 800-331-1467, riverboattwilight. com Elegant, triple-decked riverboat for day, overnight, and sightseeing cruises with dining. Get up close with bald eagles, pelicans, towering bluffs, historic river towns and the ever-changing valley landscapes.
Music on the Levee
Sundays, 7 pm, free, LeClaire Park Band Shell, 400 W. Biederbecke Dr., Davenport, cityofdavenportiowa.com All concerts are free and concessions are available.
Bix Jazz Festival
Aug 2 - 4, LeClaire Park, Davenport, bixsociety.org A festival of regional bands. Also visit the new Bix Museum in the lower level of the River Music Experience at the corner of 2nd & Main in downtown Davenport.
Freedom Run 5K
Aug 2, 6:30 pm, 700 block of 15th Ave., downtown East Moline, freedomrun5k.org A tribute and appreciation event for those who serve(d).
August/September/October 2018 | eddy Magazine
13
eddy C A L E N D A R
September
Nahant Marsh: Nature Hike
Sep 1, 9 - 10 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave., Davenport, nahantmarsh.org Join a Naturalist for a guided hike along the trails and experience the environmental changes as plants and wildlife adapt to the seasons. $5 suggested donation.
River Action’s Floatzilla
Aug 18, Lake Potter, Sunset Park, Rock Island, 563-322-2969, riveraction.org/floatzilla Be part of the largest celebration of paddling on the Mississippi River! Enjoy food, live music, and paddling fun! Help us set a new world record for the Largest Flotilla of Man-Powered Watercrafts.
< Continued from page 13
Quad City Symphony Orchestra: Pet Sounds Live – a Beach Boys Celebration
Aug 18, 7:30 pm, LeClaire Park, Davenport, $20 adults, $5 children, qcso.org Celebrate summertime with a beach bash along the Mississippi River featuring the surfin’ sounds of the Beach Boys!
River Action’s Environmental Book Club
Aug 28, 7 pm, River Action Office, 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, 563-322-2969, riveraction.org Discuss The Beak of a Finch: A Story of Evolution in our Time by Jonathan Weiner. Open to the public.
River Action’s 19th Annual Senior Citizen Golf Cart Tour Sep 6, 9 am - 4 pm, $12.50/person, 563-322-2969, riveraction.org Senior citizens can participate in our five guided riverfront golf cart tours!
Nahant Marsh: Breakfast Nature Club – Fall Wildlife
Sep 7, 8 - 9 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave., Davenport, nahantmarsh.org $5 suggested donation.
Nahant Marsh: Monarch Release Party
Sep 15, 10 am - 12:30 pm, free, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave., Davenport, nahantmarsh.org Fun for the family! Tagging and feeding monarchs throughout the morning with 200 monarchs released at noon. Education stations and other insectrelated activities.
14 eddy Magazine
| www.riveraction.org
(Photo credit: Amy Neighbour VanEchaute)
eddy C A L E N D A R
Quad Cities Marathon
Sep 23, 1201 River Dr. Moline, qcmarathon.org The course captures the essence of our nation’s heartland with a consistent connection to the Mississippi River. The 26.2 mile run starts and ends in downtown Moline, Ill. Sep 25, 7 pm, River Action Office, 822 E. River Dr., Davenport, 563-322-2969, riveraction.org Discuss The Rural Life by Verlyn Klinkenborg. Open to the public.
Oct 24 - 25, Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, Moline, 563-322-2969, riveraction.org/UMRC A goal of the 2016 “Raise the Grade” UMRC will be addressed and the conference will include a workshop specifically designed to bring together interested stakeholders to form a flood resiliency alliance for the greater Quad Cities area and surrounding watersheds.
October
Oct 23, 7 pm, River Action Office, 822 E. River Dr., Davenport, 563-322-2969, riveraction.org Discuss Windfall, The Booming Business of Global Warming by McKenzie Funk. Open to the public.
River Action’s Environmental Book Club River Action’s 13th Annual Taming of the Slough Adventure Triathlon
Sep 15, 8 am, downtown Moline, 563-322-2969, riveraction.org Kayak/canoe through Sylvan Slough, bike through one of the Quad Cities’ excellent single track mountain bike trails on Sylvan Island, and run two miles through downtown Moline.
Riverssance Festival of Fine Art
Sep 15-16, 10 am - 5 pm, $4/person, $6/two-day pass, Lindsay Park, Village of East Davenport, midcoast.org Top artists throughout North America will be showcased on a scenic hill overlooking the Mississippi River. Over 90 exhibiting artists, a children’s art tent, wine tasting, gourmet food and live regional music.
Brew Ha Ha
Sep 15, 1 - 5 pm, $30 advance tickets, $35 at door, LeClaire Park, Davenport, www.jayceesqc.org Take a tour of the American brewing landscape--two ounces at a time--from some of the finest brewers. Well-loved places around the QC and others will offer you something new to sample and sip.
11th Annual Upper Mississippi River Conference - Our Watershed: Working Together for Healthy Waters and FloodResilient Communities
Nahant Marsh: Breakfast Nature Club – Trees and Leaves
River Action’s Environmental Book Club
Oct 5, 8 - 9 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave., Davenport, nahantmarsh.org $5 suggested donation.
Nahant Marsh: Nature Hike
Oct 6, 9 - 10 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave., Davenport, nahantmarsh.org Join a Naturalist for a guided hike along the trails and experience the environmental changes as plants and wildlife adapt to the seasons. $5 suggested donation.
Tweed Ride
Oct 20, 9 am, 563-386-3521, qctweedride.com A leisurely ride along the Mississippi River. Proceeds benefit River Action.
Help connect the dots! Volunteer for River Action! We have lots of ways you can help!
Name: _________________________________ Address: _______________________________ City: __________________________________
□ Membership
□ Ride the River
□ Fish & Fire
□ Henry Farnam Dinner
Email Address:
□ Floatzilla
□ Golf Cart Tour
_______________________________________
□ Adopt A Path
□ Taming of the Slough
□ Internships
□ Conservation Maintenance
□ Education
□ First Bridge Committee
□ UMRC Conf.
□ Hydro-power Workshop
□ Office Assistant □ Marketing Committee
…and more!
State: ___________ Zip Code: _____________
Check your area of interest and mail this ad to River Action, Inc. 822 E. River Dr. Davenport, IA 52803 or email selections to: kwine@riveraction.org
®
Presenting the all new, 3-row Subaru Ascent.
The 2019 Subaru Ascent the biggest Subaru SUV ever. It is family-sized Remember fun? The 2017isOutback* brings it all back. With Symmetrical with flexibleDrive seating up to eight All-Wheel withfor X-MODE®+ anpassengers, impressive 32standard mpg, it’sSymmetrical capable of taking All-Wheel Drive, and up to 5,000 of towing And, for the you almost anywhere. Subaru also pounds has the Best Resale capacity. Value for 2016 first time, the of mind EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology according to peace Kelly Blue Book! of It’sSubaru what your adventurous side has been waiting comes standard. Starting at $31,995. for. Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
John Deere & 41st Street, Moline, IL
www.qcsubaru.com 309-797-5654